A Complete Guide to Cancer Pain Management – Cancer pain is a kind of discomfort that happens because of the disease or its treatments. It may feel sharp, dull, burning, or aching. Sometimes it stays for a long time, and sometimes it comes and goes. This pain can make daily tasks harder, disturb sleep, change mood, and weaken the immune system. That is why managing cancer pain is very important.
Cancer Pain Management uses medicines, therapies, and supportive care to reduce pain and improve comfort. It helps patients feel better physically and emotionally.
Today, more people are seeking cancer pain relief due to better awareness, improved treatment options, and a growing focus on quality of life.
In this blog, we share a complete guide to cancer pain management. It covers different methods, their benefits, and how they help people feel more comfortable. From medications to interventions.
Types Of Cancer Pain And Their Symptoms
Cancer pain comes in different types. Various painful conditions related to pain are due to direct invasion of the cancer cells into tissues or compression of nerves around the cancer cells. Some of the conditions may result after treatment of cancer, after chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery. Each type feels different and needs a specific way to manage it. Here are the main types of cancer pain:
1. Acute Pain
Acute pain happens suddenly and usually doesn’t last long. It often occurs during or after surgery, treatment, or an injury. This pain is sharp and can go away after healing.
Symptoms: Sudden sharp pain, swelling, or redness in a specific area.
2. Chronic Pain
Chronic pain lasts for a long time, usually more than three months. It can be caused by cancer pressing on bones, nerves, or organs. It may stay even after the treatment is over.
Symptoms: Ongoing aching or burning pain, tiredness, sleep problems, and mood changes.
3. Breakthrough Pain
Breakthrough pain is a sudden pain that “breaks through” regular pain control. It comes even when the person is already taking pain medicine. This type of pain is short but intense.
Symptoms: Quick and sharp pain attacks, usually in the same spot, even when taking regular painkillers.
4. Neuropathic Pain
Neuropathic pain is caused by damage to nerves, either from the cancer itself or from treatments like chemotherapy or radiation. It is different from other types of pain and often harder to treat.
Symptoms: Tingling, burning, stabbing pain, numbness, or pins-and-needles feeling.
5. Bone Pain
Bone pain can happen due to the cancer that has spread to the bone tissues. Cancer can affect the bone and cause pain and damage.
Symptoms: May feel dull, aching, or throbbing pain. This pain might be focused on one specific bone or may spread throughout your body.
6. Soft Tissue Pain
In this type of cancer pain, the cancer directly affects the soft tissues of the muscle or the skin. Hence, this leads to pain.
Symptoms: Sharp, aching, throbbing, or cramping pain in muscles or a particular part of the skin.
7. Visceral Pain
Cancer pain can be experienced around the internal organs or organs around the digestive tract.
Symptoms: The pain can be hard to find. It often feels like a throbbing sensation or makes the person feel nauseous.
8. Referred Pain
Referred cancer pain can be felt in different areas of the body from where the actual pain source is located.
Symptoms: Pain can be felt in different areas and locations where the cancer is located.
Each type of cancer pain affects people differently. Understanding these cancer pain types helps in choosing the right treatment. With proper care and support, this pain can be managed, allowing patients to feel more relaxed and live more comfortably during their cancer journey.
When To Seek Professional Help for Cancer Pain?
It is important to seek professional help when cancer pain becomes difficult to manage, keeps coming back, or starts affecting daily activities, sleep, or emotional well-being. Even mild pain that does not improve with regular medicines should not be ignored. Immediate medical attention may be needed if the character and intensity of pain change suddenly.
A doctor can identify the cause and offer the best treatment options, including changing medicines or using advanced techniques. Getting help early can ease discomfort and make cancer treatment and recovery smoother and more comfortable.
Treatment Of Cancer Pain
Cancer Pain Management is chosen based upon the “WHO step ladder” approach, wherein the medications are chosen according to the severity of pain. As a recent advancement, interventions have been introduced at each step to take care of pain if medicines are not able to provide adequate relief. Pain management in Cancer should start at the diagnosis of Cancer itself, and regular review of medicines and the need for interventions is to be taken into consideration.
Medicines: For mild cancer pain, common painkillers like Diclofenac, Paracetamol, or Ibuprofen are used. These help reduce pain and discomfort.
Opioids: When simple painkillers are not enough, doctors may use opioids. For moderate pain, weaker ones like Tramadol are given. For stronger pain, powerful medicines like Morphine or Fentanyl are used. These are carefully given under medical supervision.
Adjuvant Analgesics: These special medicines help change how the body feels pain. They work best when started early. They not only reduce pain but also help improve mood and make life better. Examples include Amitriptyline, Nortriptyline, Gabapentin, Pregabalin, and Duloxetine. These medicines usually do not have the side effects seen with long-term opioid use.
Interventions for Cancer Pain Relief: When medications are not able to provide relief to the patient or when side effects become intolerable, affecting the patient’s quality of life, minimally invasive interventions are advised to provide lasting pain relief and avoid side effects related to opioids. These interventions vary from nerve blocks, epidural catheter placement, intrathecal pump implants, to radiofrequency ablation, depending upon the site of malignancy and the expected course of disease. These interventions are carried out under local anaesthesia and provide immediate relief from pain. Patient’s dependence on opioid medications is reduced significantly, thereby showing significant improvement in quality of life.
The decision to introduce interventions should be considered when the patient starts taking opioids for pain relief, especially with increasing doses.
Related Blog: What is Pain Management?
Best Cancer Pain Management Treatment In Chandigarh – Pain Medics Clinic
Our goal is to provide adequate pain relief to cancer patients, by the way of minimally invasive interventions, so that they can undertake their chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment sessions without worrying about pain. Every step of the treatment is explained clearly to make patients feel calm and confident. Pain Medics Clinic is committed to improving overall well-being with gentle and personalised care. Our clinic offers safe and modern treatments like medications, supportive therapies, and minimally invasive procedures to ease cancer-related pain.
For those looking for trusted cancer pain management in Chandigarh, Pain Medics Clinic is a reliable choice. The journey toward comfort and better living can begin with a visit to our caring clinic.
